Spiritual Kung Fu (1978)

 Spiritual Kung Fu (1978) ***/*****

This was once my favorite early era (1976-1982) Jackie Chan movie,  does it still hold up? We'll see. But one of my favorite genre mashups are the Supernatural/(Insert genre) ones. Don't know why, but adding a dash of the supernatural to genres that don't usually have that element, will always get my attention. Action and Kung Fu movies especially. A character flaw I suppose. But anyway onto the movie.

A goofy student is taught a lost martial art style by five ghosts.

 

Drunken Master (1978)

 Drunken Master (1978) ***/*****

Here it is, the movie that signaled the arrival of the biggest Klown-Fu superstar of all time. A movie that was very clearly designed as a showcase for Jackie's inherently lovable clown like persona and physical skills. 

Wong Fei-Hung is a mischievous, yet righteous young man, but after a series of incidents, his frustrated father has him disciplined by a master of drunken martial arts.

Snake in the Eagles Shadow (1978)

 Snake in the Eagles Shadow (1978) ****/*****

Here it is, the movie that begins the upward trajectory of Jackie Chan and lays the foundation for  what was to come. A much more realized version of his slapstick Kung-Fu makes its bow, and several concepts and trademarks soon to be recognized as uniquely Jackie Chan make an early appearance as well.

This can also be viewed as a full scale dress rehearsal for Drunken Master which went into production almost immediately after this one was completed.

An orphan who has been raised at a kung fu school, where he is treated as little more than a dogsbody and practice target for the students, has a life-changing experience after helping an old peripatetic beggar.

Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin (1978)

 Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin (1978) ****/***** (Review copy was the 2019 edition of the 88 films blu-ray)

As far as these things go, this one isn't overly complicated, 

Jackie Chan has a book everyone wants and they will stop at nothing to get it. However Jackie is actually looking a murderer and is using the book as bait. 

Magnificent Bodyguards (1978)

 Magnificent Bodyguards (1978) 103 minutes. Chinese Audio. With Star Wars theme intact. ***/*****

I had this one on DVD from Shout Factory in their 8 pack set they released a decade ago, but it was the dubbed version, and I loathe most live action dubs. I was going to just skip this one until I found it streaming on Prime with the original dialogue track. Although I think the audio is like a millisecond out of sync.  

A Kung Fu master assembles guards to escort an ailing person through dangerous "Stormy Hills" terrain infested with bandits, savages, and evil monks to reach a doctor before it's too late.

Click on the poster to watch the movie on Prime.

"To Kill With Intrigue" (1977)

 "To Kill With Intrigue" (1977) **/*****

OKay gang, I thought I'd take another brief detour from my adventures with Mystery Inc. and give the next film in my Jackie Chan queue a spin. Which is another Lo Wei directed production. 

For the record this review is based on the 106 minute, subtitled cut. 

So here I am faced with another Gu Long scripted adventure, will I be able to make heads or tails of the plot, or will I be left in  the bewilderness like the last time? The answer is, not really.

While slightly less complex than Killer Meteors, it still doesn't make any type of sense. I will never understand the supposed "romantic" subplot. 

The reviews are all over the place, some people love it, some people hate it. The letterboxd page is a good place to start.  Jackie Chan is among the haters.  The only thing they seem to agree on is that the plot is convoluted, which seems to be expected from Gu Long, and that there are too many characters. 

This go around though some of the fight scenes are better choreographed and not only highlight the performers but protects them as well. Showing them in a more flattering light than what happened in "Killer Meteors". 

Still not entirely sure the plot makes any sort of sense, though maybe it was never intended to. It feels as if I was just handed the 3rd movie in a series that only makes sense if you watched the other movies. While slightly less complex than Killer Meteors, it is still incoherent. I will never understand the supposed "romantic" subplot. 

Character motivation is everywhere and sometimes nowhere. 

And some of the deaths were straight of a spaghetti western with how over the top they were. Making me wonder if even the actors knew this was a lost cause.   

Even the final showdown was lacking, looking very obviously staged and over-practiced. You could almost feel the counts for the various movies. 

Now what I did love was set design and the costuming, I really like this style and it only enhances the surrealism of the whole thing. 

The cast acquit themselves quite well despite the nonsense they are being forced to act out, they are all reliable and entertaining. They certainly deserve better than this. 

Hsu Feng is a particular standout, and I plan on seeking out her other work as well. Which consists of a little over 40 films in career thar spans 1967-1981.

Cast

• Jackie Chan - as Lei Shao-feng
• Hsu Feng - as Ding Can-ren
• Jeong Hee (credited as Yu Ling Lung) - as Qian-qian (also known as Chin Chin)
• Shin Il-Ryong - as Jin-chuan
• George Wang - as Dragon Escort Master
• Chan Wai Lau - as assassin's chief
• Chan San Yat - as assassin
• To Wai Wo - as assassin
• Yuen Biao - as assassin
• Chin Yuet Sang - as castle guard

I think the closest thing western cinema has to this style are "Western" and "Superhero" genres. Though, the "Superhero" genre is a much smoother translation of various "Wuxia" traditions than the "Western". You might be thinking, "what about Star Wars?" it doesn't count since Star Wars is just straight up Wuxia anyway, and I am not taking arguments on this. 

Fun for fans of the genre, but frustrating for nearly everyone else. 

This is another film I am removing from my personal Jackie Chan rotation. Not getting rid of mind you, just no longer going to categorize it as a Jackie Chan movie.

My favorite review I found when looking up information for this review was this one by Rouven Linnarz  of Asianmoviepulse.com that more succinctly summarizes my thoughts. And another by Dr. Lenera from Horrorcultfilms.co.uk

oBLOGitary shout out to

and

The Killer Meteors (1976)

 The Killer Meteors (1976) **/*****

A bait and switch movie from early in  Jackie Chan's career. Granted the trap wasn't set until years later once Jackie became a big star and Jimmy Wang Yu's star faded, but a trap nonetheless. 

This is actually a Wang Yu venture featuring Jackie in a supporting role with barely any screen time..

Hoo, boy... I'm in for a rough ride with this one. This movie is an incoherent mess, it is a wuxia film that features the worst wire work I have seen thus far (the Captain Marvel [Shazam] serial of the 40's. has more believable wirework) The fight choreography is poorly staged, doing Wang Yu no favors whatsoever and undermining Jackie Chan as well. It is slow, painful, and almost embarrassing to watch. I don't understand exactly what the rhythm and the pacing of the fights were trying to accomplish. They only seemed to exist to embarrass the combatants.   

The Protector (1985) - US Version

Today's cinematic treasure is the well loved and highly cherished 1985 gem The Protector (1985). That was sarcasm by the way in case you couldn't tell.

This poster is way cooler than the movie